Island



(No Model.)

. J. P. THAYER.

BUTTON FASTENER. No. 296,798.. Patented Apr. 15, 1884.

WITNESEEEI- INVENTUFK.

U ITED STATES aren't tries.

' JAMES F. THAYEIhOF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

BUTTON-FASTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent 0. 296,798, dated April 15, 1884.

Application filed January 14, 1884. (No model.)

To @113 whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES F. THAYER, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Providence, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Button-Fasteners; and I do declarethe following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of' this specification.

My improved fastener belongs to that class of sheet-metal devices for attaching buttons to fabric in which an instrument specially devised for the purpose is used, the objects desired to be attained being a light, strong, and, substantial fastening, which will not injure the material to which it is attached; also to present a smooth surface on the under side of the material, so as not to injure the flesh of the wearer, and to provide a connection for the eye of the button which shall bring the strain equally on both ends of the base of the fastener.

I am aware that fasteners have heretofore been made having circular disk-heads and round sharpened prongs extending from the upper surface thereof, also similar devices of a like character; but I am not aware of a fast ener ever being made before embodying my present improvements.

To this end my present invention consists of a blank-fastener cut out from sheet metal having a base or head portion and an upwardly-projecting prong out at right angles thereto, the projecting prong being located at one side of the center of the head or base portion, and having its end rounded only on one side, all as will be hereinafter more particularly described.

To illustrate my inventionl refer to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a bottom and plan view of my improved fastener. Fig. 2 shows the fastener bent, with the button and fabric removed. Fig. 3 shows a button attached to fabric by means of my improved fastener. Fig. i is a view of a fabric, showing the portion of the fastener which appears in sight on the upper surface, with a button attached. Fig. 5 shows a piece of sheet metal out of which the fastener is out.

A is a fastener cut out from sheet metal, ready for use without any other manipulation of bending, as is required with other fastenings of a like character, and consists of a base or head, b, having at one side of the center and extending from the cut edge thereof, and at right angles thereto, a projecting prong, a, substantially parallel on both sides from the base to near the end,'which is rounded on one side only, as shown in Fig. 1 at a. The object of this peculiar-shaped point is to make it self-penetrating, and the rounding of the end,being on one side only,causes the rounded portion, on coming in contact with the angle of a die, to turn or bendtoward the straight side of the prong, thus materially assisting in the easy bending of the prong in attaching a button to fabric. The prong, being out at one side of the center, forms, when bent in attaching a button, a center loop or book, 6, as shown in Fig. 2, the distance from the ends of the base to the book being equal, as shown at d and d, Fig. 2, thus equalizing the strain on the base or head.

In the operation of attachment, I first confine the fastener in one member of a suitable setting-tool. The point of the fastener, on being pressed through the fabric and button-eye, is brought in contact with a die in the opposite member of the setting-tool. The rounded end a, on striking the angle of the die, causes the prong to be bent toward the straight side over and through the material down onto the head or base portion b, as shown in Fig. 3, thus securing the button to the fabric, the bent prong and base being in the same plane.

It will be observed that but two small holes are made in the material, and but a small amount of metal appears abovethe surface of the fabric, as is shown in Fig. i at e. The fastener being through the fabric in two holes prevents it from turning around and wearing the fabric, while theloop 6 being in the center of the base or headportion causes an equal strain on the fabric on each side of the loop.

I am aware that it is not new to cut a fastener from sheet metal, the head and prong of which are integral. I do not claim such a In testimony whereof I affix my signature in 10 fastener, broadly. the presence of two Witnesses.

Having described my invention, what I claim is- JAMES F. THAYER.

The herein-described one-piece sheet-metal fastener A, consisting of the head or base portion 1), and projecting prong a, terminating in a rounded one-side end, a, substantially as I shown and described. 1

Witnesses:

FRANKLIN A. SMITH, J r., WM. R. DUTEMPLE. 

